I do not know if I have ever picked up from a previous article right where I left off, but I am inclined to do so right now. You see, the topic of discussion was about sequels that have taken place 30 years after their original cohorts. As it turns out, it is far more common, at least these days, than I might have originally realized. Today’s example is not straying at all from the beaten path.
As you may remember, I mentioned that the horror genre is full of examples where a sequel was produced 30 or so years away from its first predecessor. Well, here we are, yet again. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” began its life on the big screen way back in 1974. At the time, I doubt if anyone could have imagined what would come of this movie and everything that followed it. The current sequel is actually the ninth installment for the entire franchise. However, going by the ordinal of the previous films, it is just the fifth sequel, since two of the previous entries are prequel tales and another was an official remake of the original movie.
The opening title sequence takes on the look of the first film. If you have any familiarity with that style, it will be a welcomed viewing pleasure, but it does not last very long. The plot begins with a couple of young ladies entering into a small gas station. The first one you will see is Lila, played by Elsie Fisher (“The Addams Family”) and the second is Melody, played by Sarah Yarkin. Although neither one of them seem to be the most significant character for the entire story, you will discover, later on, that appearances can be quite deceiving. They do their brief business and make their way outside, where two other friends await: Dante, played by Jacob Latimore (“Like a Boss”) and his girlfriend, played by Jessica Allain. Before they actually leave, they have an awkward encounter with whom can best be described as a cliched, Hollywood depiction of a country Texan. In this case, he is Richter, played by Moe Dunford. Now, it is just a matter of time before our masked assailant graces us with his presence, but for how long will we wait?…
The posse makes its way to the fictional town of Harlow, Texas. The ultimate goal is to revive the rundown, ghost town into a young, thriving community. However, upon arrival, there is already a snag. The familiar Alice Krige (“The Bay of Silence”), as Mrs. Mc, has not yet left her house and refuses to, despite everyone’s best intentions to assist her in that plight. She succumbs to nerves and reacts in a very bizarre fashion, which seems to stir the pot for one, mysterious being. Yes, I think you know who that would be. Otherwise, this story would not exist. Leatherface, played by Mark Burnham, begins his murderous rampage, surrounded by a well-executed (no pun intended) cinematic atmosphere, which you can see an image of in the film’s main theatrical poster. It is not quite as effective as the saturated look of the original movie, but it is still good and pretty effective.
For the next segment of the film, there is little in the way of character or plot development, aside from the garden-variety slasher narrative. 
Does it feel repetitive at times? Most definitely, but if you are at all surprised by this, I would say that you probably wandered into the wrong theater… or clicked on the incorrect streaming service option. All I can add is that I hope you did not form any emotional bonds with any of the primary or secondary characters, cause very few of them will survive and even THAT is being generous.
The story really comes down to the two sisters that you saw at the first of the film. While everyone else is helpless to avoid Leatherface’s onslaught, Lila and (especially) Melody, manage to get through… or do they? Their paths to the endpoint are starkly different, though. While Lila envisions gore in a fit of PTSD and uses that experience to learn and adapt, Melody seems to just have that special quality that makes her stronger during times of vulnerability. Again, it is nothing new to the genre, but I was pleased with Sarah Yarkin’s performance and I was happy to root for her, throughout. By the very end of the story, you might even find yourself recounting the final segment of the movie as something better than average. I certainly did. Nostalgia and humor met for a key payoff. It was subtle, but fun, at least for me.
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is not a creative tale and for the bulk of its narration, it was average, which does not bode well for the genre, itself. I mentioned the cinematography and a singular acting performance, but aside from the ramp going into the final moments of the film, I was not too impressed. Still, I did not hate it, either.
I would advise that one be at least somewhat familiar with the genre AND the franchise in order to really get any enjoyment from this new installment. The door has definitely been left ajar for another sequel, but it should probably progress with a whole new cast, as the ambiguous outcome was mostly written for a typical, jolting scare; almost a prerequisite to the genre. The reviews are likely to be mixed and leaning toward the negative, but I, for one, am leaning toward the positive, be it only slightly. Just try and enjoy “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” for what it is… do I really need to explain what it is at this point?
Director: David Blue Garcia
Screenwriter: Chris Thomas Devlin (“Cobweb”)
Music: Colin Stetson (“Mayday”)
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham, Jacob Latimore, Moe Dunford, Olwen Fouere as Sally Hardesty, Alice Krige, Jessica Allain, Nell Hudson as Ruth and John Larroquette as the film’s narrator
Distributor: Netflix
Release: February, 18th, 2022
